Two years ago Star Wars roared back into the collective consciousness of the world as The Force Awakens dawned a new era for the saga. The installment left many viewers speechless and eagerly anticipating this return to a galaxy far, far away. Luckily in this era of Disney’s rule, the wait was only 2 years (with a nice side of Rogue One in the middle) for Rian Johnson’s addition.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Jedi Council members Bruce Gibson and John Mills to talk about Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We discuss context and history, writing 101, the characters, the "chase", almost death, Crait and Luke battle, lost hope, humor, music, ships and our ratings.

One of the very first glimpses fans got from The Last Jedi was a menagerie of high rollers from a brand new casino planet called Canto Bight. It featured aliens of all shapes and sizes while evoking feel of Las Vegas in the 1960s. Now as the film rapidly approaches, the last book in the “Journey to the Last Jedi” gives us a taste of what life is like on this “paradise”.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Bruce Gibson and Christy Morris to talk about the latest Star Wars book, Canto Bight. We discuss our excitement for The Last Jedi, the book's setup, Rules of the Game, The Wine in the Dreams, Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing, The Ride, ratings and should you read it.

Chapters The Last Jedi Excitement (00:03:52) The Book's Setup (00:05:34) Rules of the Game (00:18:31) The Wine in the Dreams (00:27:05) Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing (00:38:29) The Ride (00:44:55) Rating (00:54:24) Should You Read It? (00:55:46)

Leia is one of the most recognized and revered characters in film, yet we still know very little about her upbringing. From the time she was whisked away by Bail Organa, adopted by he and his wife and then shows up in A New Hope, we know almost nothing (we do know just a bit more now, thanks to an appearance by the rebellious princess in Star Wars Rebels). Now thanks to The Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Claudia Gray, Leia’s transition from princess to rebel is now complete.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by fellow Rebels Christy Morris and Thomas Harper to talk about Leia, Princess of Alderaan. We discuss Christy's first Star Wars book, Leia's characterization, Leia and her parents, from princess to rebel, Kier, YA, the cost, saw, Last Jedi connections, Amilyn Holdo and our ratings.

In the lead up to The Force Awakens, the anticipation for the new film was palpable. Fans were atwitter about everything they were seeing in the trailers, toys and through the media, including one of the most striking new characters–Captain Phasma. This chrome-plated stormtrooper had many fans asking questions about who she was, where she came from and just how awesome she would be in the movie. It’s not an overstatement to say that she was a letdown in the film as she was given nothing to do other than be thrown into a trash compacter by Chewie, Han, and Finn. Fortunately, the rehabilitation of Phasma has now begun. She’ll be back in Episode VIII, she’s starring in her own comic (where she’ll escape Starkiller Base) and her backstory has finally been revealed in the latest release from Del Rey by Delilah S. Dawson.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by fellow Jedi Master John Mills to talk about the latest Star Wars book, Phasma. We discuss our excitement, a character study, history, what about redemption, The First Order, world building, it all ties together and our ratings.

Chapters Excitement (00:03:40) A Character Study (00:07:56) History (00:25:50) What About Redemption? (00:30:31) The First Order (00:38:19) World Building (00:52:22) It All Ties Together (00:57:17) Ratings (01:13:04)

In this very special supplemental episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing was joined on a Dragon Con panel but author Timothy Zahn and Star Wars Rebels Co-creator Henry Gilroy to talk about Thrawn. We were also joined by panelists Bruce Gibson, Kelly Hale and John Laing to dive into one of the true Star Wars legends.

On Friday September 1st, 2017, host Matthew Rushing was apart of a panel at Dragon Con on the Star Wars track with Moderator Bruce Gibson and panelists Bria LaVorgna, Aaron Goins, Alex Damon and Tom Hutchens to discuss the new canon books and comics in the saga as well as some of our favorites from the Legends line. We talk about what's working, what's not, our favorites and take questions from the audience. If you are interested in attending Dragon Con it is in downtown Atlanta every Labor Day weekend!

In the aftermath of Scarif and the destruction of the indestructible Death Star, the Empire finds itself vulnerable for the first time in twenty years. Its time to get serious about the treat of the Rebellion and destroy what is left of Saw Gerrera’s Partisans. For this task, the Empire forms a new group who will work on the outside, an elite team who will suss out the Imperial traitors, infiltrate Rebel and Partisan groups to find out where the leaks are coming from and bring them to justice.

In this supplemental episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Bruce Gibson and Michael Morris to talk about Christie Golden's latest Star Wars book, Inferno Squad. We discuss expectations, the setup, moral ambiguity, truth, hope and hate, betrayal, Inferno Squad, the Dreamers, a metaphor, focus and our ratings.

When Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the book series that had been going on since 1991 was classified "Legends" and a new series of books was begun, which were considered canon for the Star Wars saga.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Bruce Gibson to talk about Lords of the Sith. We discuss previous books and expectations, the predators, action, Sith relationship, the Free Ryloth movement, new Imperials, focus and our ratings.

The first film in the Star Wars Story line added some incredible new characters who helped change the galaxy forever with their daring mission to Scarif. But who were these people before and what lead them to this point? Luckily the literature is here to fill in those gaps.

In this supplemental episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Bruce Gibson to talk about Greg Rucka's book about Baze and Chirrut, Guardians of the Whills. We discuss force religions, meditations on the force, what the book adds, the force, terrorists against the Empire and our ratings.

Chapters Force Religions (00:03:31) Meditations on the Force (00:16:35) What the Book Adds (00:18:40) The Force (00:26:58) Terrorists Against the Empire (00:30:26) Ratings (00:38:08)

The first Lego Star Wars set released in 1999 was a X-Wing, set number 7140. Since that time Lego has produced hundreds of sets for the saga as well as branched off into video games and television shows.

In this supplemental episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Aaron Goins to talk about The Freemaker Adventures Season One. We discuss Lego, finding the Freemaker Adventures, the set up, favorite character, favorite episodes and why you should be watching.

Franchises enable fans the opportunity to get to know characters over many movies or episodes of a television show, but Rogue One's main characters were people that would only be in one movie and then most of them would never be seen again, opening the door for the literature to in fill in the backstories.

In this supplemental episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Bruce Gibson to talk about the new Star Wars book, Rebel Rising. We discuss the structure of the book, YA books, fighting the Empire, what the Empire's like, a tangent, a metaphor, Jyn and our ratings.

Timothy Zahn is responsible for the creation of one of Star Wars most memorable villains in the literature and now with his recent appearance in the third season of Star Wars Rebels Zahn has been given the opportunity to fill in the story that leads us to Rebels.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Bruce Gibson to talk about Thrawn. We discuss our expectations, Thrawn's character, parallels, connections, character voices, Thrawn's equal, Eli Vanto and our ratings.

The new canon books of Star Wars have seen some great new stories in the universe and surprisingly, some of the best in the new canon have been from books aimed at the youngest fans of the saga.

In this supplemental episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Scott Ryfun to talk about the first three entries in the Adventures in Wild Space series. We discuss the set up, The Escape, The Snare, The Nest, what's coming in the rest of the series and our ratings.

Chapters The Set Up (00:03:27) The Escape (00:08:18) The Snare (00:21:12) The Nest (00:27:34) The Rest of the Series (00:40:13) Ratings (00:41:14)

The end of Rebels season two was an emotional time for fans of Star Wars as the confrontation between master and apprentice finally happened leaving Vader scared and Ahsoka disappearing further into the Sith temple. It set the expectations for season three astronomically high.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Jedi Master John Mills to talk about Star Wars Rebels season three. We discuss Thrawn, Ezra/Maul/darkside, Twin Suns, The Chosen One, Bendu, Rebel and Mandalorian connections, Whitta's episodes, hope and our ratings.

With the release of The Force Awakens, one of the biggest questions about the movie was, "What happened in the 30 years between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens?". The Aftermath series by Chuck Wendig was meant to begin that tale, but has been middling at best and now the trilogy is coming to a close.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Bruce Gibson and Mark Hurliman to talk about Empire's End. We discuss our first/last impressions, dive deep into all 5 sections of the books and talk about the aftermath of these books the the state of canon, plus give out thoughts about the future of the books.

When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 and acquired the rights to Star Wars a lot of things happened very quickly: The Clone Wars was canceled, the Expanded Universe was canceled and in their places we would get a new animated show, Star Wars Rebels as well as a new literature line that would be fully canon. As it happened, the first book in the new canon would be the lead in to Rebels, taking place six years before the events of the series.

In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by fellow rebels Aaron Goins and Bruce Gibson to talk about A New Dawn. We discuss legends, a new canon, an introduction, the relationship question, Jedi relationships, proto-rebels, big Empire watching, bad businessmen, Imperials, they who must not be named and ratings.

Chapters Legends (00:03:25) A New Canon (00:05:59) An Introduction (00:13:54) Relationship Question (00:20:57) Hera (00:24:29) Kanan (00:28:38) Jedi Relationships (00:33:27) Skelly (00:38:58) Zaluna (00:42:22) Every Move You Make (00:46:12) Businessmen Run Amuck (00:51:31) Imperial Power Games (00:56:56) They Who Must Not Be Named (01:01:45) Ratings (01:05:52)